Testimonials from 2024 IIMIF Students
(Scholarship Recipients)
Hey! I'm Glen Mouat, and I'm a Scottish violinist. I'm currently studying at the Royal Conservatoire under Maya Iwabuchi.
Having attended IIMIF 2023, returning in 2024 was an easy decision as far as the musical side! The faculty bring so much energy and happiness to our lessons and coaching, offering a unique approach to learning!
But it wouldn't have been easy without the scholarship I received. I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship to IIMIF this year, which helped make ends meet back home leading to me being able to travel from Scotland to the USA and attend this program. I am eternally grateful to the generosity shown to me.
At IIMIF, I was part of two chamber groups and a huge part of our development as a group was being able to get to know one another as people and really learn from what each person had to bring to the rehearsal! The tight-knit community at IIMIF makes you strive to be the best you can be! The reflections every night really help keep the focus on YOU and what YOU achieved that day. This level of individual self-improvement has done wonders for my technical ability and confidence. These are people I will be friends with for years to come.
Having attended IIMIF 2023, returning in 2024 was an easy decision as far as the musical side! The faculty bring so much energy and happiness to our lessons and coaching, offering a unique approach to learning!
But it wouldn't have been easy without the scholarship I received. I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship to IIMIF this year, which helped make ends meet back home leading to me being able to travel from Scotland to the USA and attend this program. I am eternally grateful to the generosity shown to me.
At IIMIF, I was part of two chamber groups and a huge part of our development as a group was being able to get to know one another as people and really learn from what each person had to bring to the rehearsal! The tight-knit community at IIMIF makes you strive to be the best you can be! The reflections every night really help keep the focus on YOU and what YOU achieved that day. This level of individual self-improvement has done wonders for my technical ability and confidence. These are people I will be friends with for years to come.
Hello, my name is Lucia Lotterhand, and I'm a cellist from New Hampshire. I'll be a junior at Hanover High School this year, and I'm interested in visual arts like cartooning, drawing, and animation. I also dance and have been studying cello for seven years with Nicole Fizznoglia, my teacher from Amherst, Massachusetts. She comes to Norwich, Vermont (right next to Hanover) every Wednesday and Thursday to teach me, my younger brother, and her other students.
This year, I was principal cellist in the NH All-State Music Festival and second chair in the New England Music Festival. Elizabeth Borowsky, a close family friend, has encouraged me to attend IIMIF for years. She said it would significantly enhance my musical abilities and broaden my musical horizons.
I decided to join IIMIF this year to grow as a musician in new ways. I wanted more challenges than my local music community offered. The program exceeded my expectations. I learned countless new approaches to playing, interpreting, and caring for my instrument. I resolved persistent issues in my repertoire and gained fresh perspectives on solo and chamber music. I also discovered effective practice techniques, like goal-setting and reflection, which have boosted my motivation and satisfaction.
The masterclass with Dr. Cecylia Barczyk was unforgettable. Her insights were transformative and will stay with me for a long time. IIMIF has inspired me to consider a cello performance major or minor in college. I've developed a deeper appreciation for all aspects of music, from performance and practice to casual conversations with friends.
The scholarship you provided made IIMIF possible. My family's finances have been tight, and college expenses for my older sister have added to the strain. Your generous scholarship was the deciding factor in my ability to attend IIMIF. It was a life-changing experience, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Thank you!
This year, I was principal cellist in the NH All-State Music Festival and second chair in the New England Music Festival. Elizabeth Borowsky, a close family friend, has encouraged me to attend IIMIF for years. She said it would significantly enhance my musical abilities and broaden my musical horizons.
I decided to join IIMIF this year to grow as a musician in new ways. I wanted more challenges than my local music community offered. The program exceeded my expectations. I learned countless new approaches to playing, interpreting, and caring for my instrument. I resolved persistent issues in my repertoire and gained fresh perspectives on solo and chamber music. I also discovered effective practice techniques, like goal-setting and reflection, which have boosted my motivation and satisfaction.
The masterclass with Dr. Cecylia Barczyk was unforgettable. Her insights were transformative and will stay with me for a long time. IIMIF has inspired me to consider a cello performance major or minor in college. I've developed a deeper appreciation for all aspects of music, from performance and practice to casual conversations with friends.
The scholarship you provided made IIMIF possible. My family's finances have been tight, and college expenses for my older sister have added to the strain. Your generous scholarship was the deciding factor in my ability to attend IIMIF. It was a life-changing experience, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Thank you!
My name is Carter Burkholder and I am a rising junior from Lancaster, PA. For the remainder of high school, I hope to continue to develop and grow as a musician. Beyond that, my goals include pursuing cello performance and music production in college and professionally.
IIMIF was introduced to me by my private cello teacher, who was very complimentary about experiences he had with Dr. Frances Borowsky and her teaching expertise. I was drawn to the fact that the camp was intentionally small and also had a clear focus on dedicated practice time and chamber music.
My time at IIMIF exceeded my expectations and provided me with the opportunity to play with a talented trio. I learned so much about my tone quality in a masterclass with Professor Barczyk, and came away with new ways to evoke more musical qualities within my playing. I made many good friends and appreciated the opportunity to practice yoga and how to incorporate other daily life activities into progressing as a musician.
I am extremely grateful for the scholarship that was offered to me and how it allowed me to attend this festival. The growth I achieved technically, musically, and socially, made the scholarship an invaluable investment into both my experience and future. Thank you to the donors that made that possible.
IIMIF was introduced to me by my private cello teacher, who was very complimentary about experiences he had with Dr. Frances Borowsky and her teaching expertise. I was drawn to the fact that the camp was intentionally small and also had a clear focus on dedicated practice time and chamber music.
My time at IIMIF exceeded my expectations and provided me with the opportunity to play with a talented trio. I learned so much about my tone quality in a masterclass with Professor Barczyk, and came away with new ways to evoke more musical qualities within my playing. I made many good friends and appreciated the opportunity to practice yoga and how to incorporate other daily life activities into progressing as a musician.
I am extremely grateful for the scholarship that was offered to me and how it allowed me to attend this festival. The growth I achieved technically, musically, and socially, made the scholarship an invaluable investment into both my experience and future. Thank you to the donors that made that possible.
I'm Jessica Wang! I am a rising senior at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland and in the future I plan on pursuing music on a semi-professional level. IIMIF was definitely one of the highlights of my summer. I've been to many music festivals and institutes in the past but with IIMIF something was so special about its intensive schedule paired with such exceptional faculty and the community that was built that just pushed me to a new level as a musician. One of my most memorable experiences at IIMIF was working on the Carmen Suite with two other wonderful pianists. It was probably genuinely the most fun I've ever had just playing and practicing the piano. Every single practice session that we had would just always end in a fit of laughter. Another highlight for me was playing in a piano quintet and being able to work with four other incredibly talented musicians and just feeling the music together when we played. it was just simply put so beautiful and so truly special to me. Receiving a scholarship was a crucial part of me attending IIMIF. It alleviated the financial burden and just allowed me to fully immerse myself in the program without really worrying about costs. The financial support meant that I could just focus on the music which was just so amazing for me and I could just take full advantage of everything that IIMIF had to offer. I left IIMIF feeling so inspired and with such incredible new skills and knowledge, and I am so deeply grateful for such a transformative experience.
